Aug 14th, 2008 3-days on the Wonder

[woosie]

Hello all. First Disney cruise, and first post at DISboards.

We're coming over from Northern California (bay area) with my mother-in-law from Jamestown, CA (gold country).

How about you?

 

[dukehoopsfan]

Our first Disney cruise too! We are coming from upstate New York!

 

[woosie]

Good to hear from you dukehoopsfan. It looks like your DS 12 will likely be meeting my DD 10 (11 the week after the cruise) in the day camp. I hope your DD is looking forward to it too. We went on a cruise with our parents when we were that age and loved it, even without all the teen stuff that Disney offers.

Are you looking at shore excursions? We're thinking about signing up for the dolphin experience. My mother-in-law would really love doing that, and I know the DDs would too. Although, it looks like CC might be just as much fun without any long activities planned. I know I want to snorkel & ride bikes for sure.

Let's see who else might come on board and join our cruise, it may still be a bit early?

 

[woosie]

Okay, just trying one more time to see if I got my signature saved...

 

[dlz]

Hello all,

After weeks of painfuly (kidding) trying to pick a stateroom, Verandah vs porthole, I made my mind up today and picked the Verandah. Myself, my DH, DD (17) and DS (13) will be checking into the Boardwalk Villas from Mon 08/10-08/14 then on to the cruise Thur. 08/14. It's our first cruise and I just can't wait! Wish it was next week. Hope there will lots of kids for my son to play with and teenage girls for my daughter to tan with. Look forward to meeting all of you.

 

[DLandGAL]

2nd Cruise for us. DH, DD (16), DS (14), DD (10), Mom, Dad, and maybe more friends and family to round up...sounds like this could be fun

 

[woosie]

Sounds great so far. At least we know there are a couple mid-teen girls, and earlier teen boys, plus a pair of 10 year old girls so far. I'm not worried about my DD8, she can make friends on a deserted island, but DD10 is already nervous about being forced to meet people.

Is anyone thinking about a dolphin encounter in Nassau? We're traveling with my MIL, who is in her late 70s, and she's dying to swim with a dolphin. We decided to bite the bullet, and sign up! It will be a surprise for the DDs. I just got my reservations at dolphinencounters.com. We decided to do the swim, so you can't book that one through DCL. I sure hope it's worth the cash, but based on other DISers, it sounds like it will be.

Anyone else making special plans? Celebrations?

Can't WAIT until August!

 

[woosie]

Hello all! Well, payments are made, excursions reserved, are you all getting ready to go? I haven't actually done much in the last month besides trying to finalize our WDW ressies for our visit to the parks before the cruise. I had planned for the cruise to be our "vacation from the vacation" after 11 crazy days with my family from Wyoming. Of course, I don't want to miss much on the cruise either, so I think we'll be pretty busy both in Nassau and Castaway Cay.

We booked the sting ray excursion at CC, I think at 10:00am, is anyone else doing that? It sounds like fun. We're also planning to snorkel & rent bikes, but I didn't get the 3-fer because we have our own snorkel equipment (although it will the first time for our DDs).

What about on board, is anyone going to Palo? I know everyone says you need to do it, but with 3 nights, and 3 restaurants, I thought we might leave that one for the next time. I haven't decided about a visit to the spa yet though. Too many choices, I have a hard time. I had a mani/pedi on a Carnival cruise and was so disappointed with the quality and service, I've been hesitant, but nothing sounds better than a nice massage to wind down the trip, so we'll see.

Okay, I guess my number one priority now that we've paid should be to get serious about dropping a pant size or two! Now that there's less than 60 days to swimsuit time (or at least until we leave), I might have to actually get serious, yuck. Anyone have any good crash diet plans? I'm hoping to focus on getting to the gym more than once a week, and start by cutting out my most beloved food group of desserts & other things fatty.

Anyway, hoping to hear from you all on how the planning/anticipation is coming on your end!

 

[DLandGAL]

Well I agree trying to decide what to do but StingRays sound fun, I think I will look into that for the DD and Niece 11 and 12 years with Grandpa. They will love it. Scheduled Palo's for night 2 but am now rethinking that one also. Too much to do, so little time! Hope to meet you! maybe a meet on the ship would be fun....

 

[momtomari]

hello to you all... i have decided to cruise for the first time. it will be me and my dd5. i figured we would celebrate both of our graduations me from college and her from preschool ready for kindergarten and enjoy ourselves before it is back to school.

i have signed up to do the dolphin excursion and also a spa treatment for a body wrap. i dont get into spa things, so it will be interesting.

is anyone interested in doing fish extenders??

amanda

 

[woosie]

Welcome Amanda,

I've been reading about the fish extenders too. It does seem like something people do more often on the longer cruises, but it wouldn't take up too much room in the suitcase, and the kids would love it.

I was intimidated at first as my "craft time" is completely gone with two little athletes to run around all night , but when I saw some of the pictures just re-working everyday items, I think I could definately come up with something. Let's see if anyone else is interested. I think there are several kids, many pre-teens and tweeners in our DIS group here, it could be fun.

Is anyone else in? If you don't know what they are (as I didn't until this week), it's just a little organizer with pockets that you can hang outside your room, on the fish decoration. Other DISers come by and leave you goodies throughout the cruise in the pockets. Some do age appropriate gifts, many seem to do something representative from their home state. There's several threads that have pictures and descriptions, but they can be as elaborate, or as simple as you want.

 

[MAXIMUMMOM]

Hello Everyone, I am so excited about our cruise (Mommy, daughter, cousin & daughter bff). I was glad to see that there was a spot for upcomming travelers to say hi to one another prior to sailing. Let me say it again - I AM SOOOO EXCITED. I am taking my 8 yr daughter, her cousin and her best friend. Because we have been talking about it for so long the girls have somewhat lost a little interest, but not the MOMMA- I am worse than they are. I even decided to do one day at Disney World before we set sail, which they know nothing about.

I do have one question / concern - what is there to do for the individual parent other than the spa treatment - I plan on doing that before I leave home for the trip (hehehe) I dont just want to be bored out of my whits end..Any suggestions would be most helpful?

WHOOO - HOOOOO!!!! Here I come Disney!!!!!!

 

[bubbles527]

HI! I am 12 and I have a 10 yr old brother, 6 yr old sister, and a 4yr old sister, and my parents coming on that day!!! hope to see you there!

 

[bubbles527]

I am 12! Yay! There are actualy other 12 yr olds coming!!!!

 

[momtomari]

looks like the forecasted weather is rain this week.